Honda CBR650R & CB650R Offer Nimble Performance With Midsized Inline Four

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The light, maneuverable 2022 CBR650R includes a full fairing, mirroring the look on many of Honda’s elite superbikes. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

Honda designed its 2022 CBR650R and CB650R to offer an enjoyable riding experience, no matter if that ride is a daily commute, a sprint on the track, or a twisting backroad. As such, the sport bikes borrow several features from Honda’s CB1000R while focusing on balanced handling characteristics and midsized power. As of last year, the CBR650R and CB650R feature Showa’s Separate Function Big Piston fork for improved handling. The inverted 41-millimeter fork is adjustable using a seven-stage spring preload, which Honda says operates directly on the gravity die-cast aluminum swingarm.

The CBR650R

The “CBR” variant of the 650R adds a full fairing to complete the bodywork, while enhancing the sport bike’s stylish aesthetic. The chassis is otherwise similar to the CB650R with a steel-diamond frame tuned to be stiffer around the headstock and more flexible around the twin elliptical spars. Pivot plates, engine hangers, seat rails, and other light but strong components are used to achieve the bike’s balanced handling characteristics.

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The 2022 CB650R offer premium handling, thanks in part to the Showa Separate Function Front Fork Big Piston unit. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

The CB650R

With its short tail and short-overhang headlight, the CB650R delivers what Honda calls a Neo Sports Café style with smooth lines highlighting the inline four power plant. Honda says the 2022 CB650R’s 16-valve, 649-cc engine is tuned to deliver power above 10,000 rpm, with peak power arriving at 12,000 rpm. Peak torque, meanwhile, is delivered at 8,500 rpm. Twin air ducts on either side of the fuel tank feed the engine with air, while the 1.5-inch (38-millimeter)-bore tailpipe quickly exhausts the system. Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) automatically manages the motorcycle’s rear-wheel traction, controlling the engine’s torque output by detecting differences in the slip ratio between the front and rear wheels; riders can disable HSTC if they prefer. The CB650R offers two-channel ABS brakes with the four-piston front brake calipers featuring 12.2-inch (310-mm) floating rotors, and the single-piston rear calipers work on a 9.4-inch (240-mm) rotor.

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Source: Honda